Image Credit: Google Earth
The Tennessee Conservative News Staff-
A new law is bridging state lines to strengthen law enforcement collaboration between Tennessee and North Carolina.
The recently enacted North Carolina Senate Bill 176 now allows the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina to operate jointly across state boundaries for special missions and joint operations.
Chief Deputy Frank Rogers of the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office says the bill was the result of cooperation between both counties to improve public safety and streamline law enforcement operations.
Under the new law, deputies from each jurisdiction will be able to legally assist one another across state lines in situations such as emergencies, fugitive pursuits, drug trafficking investigations, and violent crime responses.
Rogers said the law also eliminates legal issues and liability concerns that previously limited cooperation, enabling faster and more coordinated action between agencies. Additionally, the legislation requires detailed partnership agreements and annual reporting to ensure transparency and accountability.
“This law is a testament to what happens when strong leaders unite,” Rogers said in a social media post. “Unicoi and Mitchell Counties, working at a state and local level, are proving that teamwork gets the job done. From our communities to across the state line, this partnership makes sure that dangerous criminals do not find a safe haven.”
Officials from both states say the law represents a major step forward in regional law enforcement cooperation, allowing agencies to better protect communities that straddle state lines.
